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US President Joe Biden made the decision to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan, the process has reached completion. The White House has announced this week that Biden has authorized $100 million in emergency funds to meet the needs of Afghan refugees.
The White House announced Biden’s authorization of $100 million in emergency funds to meet the “unexpected urgent” refugee needs that come as a result of the current situation in Afghanistan. This would include Afghan special immigration visa applicants. Biden also approved $200 million in services and articles from US government agency inventories to meet the same needs for Afghan refugees.
The US is also preparing to evacuate Afghans for special immigration visas who are at risk of danger of retaliation from the Taliban because they worked for the US government. This includes the Afghan interpreters and their families. The first batch of refugees is expected to be evacuated from Afghanistan before the end of the month to Fort Lee, a US military base in Virginia as they wait for their visa applications.
The Pentagon said that around 2,500 Afghans could be brought to the facility which is 30 miles south of Richmond, Virginia. The Biden administration is also looking into other US facilities in the country and overseas where special immigration visa applicants and their families could be accommodated.
Last week, the House passed legislation that seeks to expand the number of SIVs that could be granted up to 8,000. This could include all eligible applications.
In other news, Biden is also facing pressure from Democrats, particularly the progressive faction of the party, to cancel student debt, which was Biden’s campaign promise. However, the White House is still reviewing possibilities to be able to implement the move.
Biden has contacted the Education and Justice Departments to look into his legal authority to cancel up to $50,000 in student debt per borrower through an executive order. Senator Elizabeth Warren campaigned for the said amount, while Biden has clarified he could cancel up to $10,000 per borrower.
In Biden’s town hall back in February, the US leader seemed to walk back his comments, saying that he does not think he has the legal authority to cancel $50,000 per borrower.
